CAO John Enns-Wind, right, and Deputy Mayor Susan McLean Tady shown at Battleford council’s meeting Monday. Council decided to table the issue before making a decision on a discretionary use application for a youth care residence. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff).

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Battleford council eyes Eagle’s Nest application for youth care home

Jun 4, 2019 | 8:56 AM

The Town of Battleford is mulling over whether or not to grant a discretionary use permit to an applicant for a residential-care home which would house six youth on 28 Street W.

Council discussed the issue at Monday’s council meeting.

Deputy Mayor Susan McLean Tady, who chaired the meeting, said council was “trying to cover all the bases” in accordance with procedure before making a decision.

Ultimately, council decided to table the matter until its next meeting.

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At a prior public hearing on the issue several residents were opposed to having a youth group home in their neighbourhood.

Some of their concerns included on-street parking impact, more traffic, and the impact on the “character” of the street since there is already a seniors’ residence on the same block.

At Monday’s meeting an area resident stated while the town previously said having a youth group home on a residential street would not negatively affect property values, he was concerned it may still deter someone from buying a house near the residence. He also indicated in a letter to council it “takes away from the pride of ownership of a family neighbourhood” by having a youth group home in the area.

Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch will take possession of the property July 1. Even if council doesn’t permit the discretionary use application for six youth, the owners of the property will still be permitted to create a residential care home for four youth. Eagle’s Nest home will be licensed by the Ministry of Social Services.

While council hasn’t yet made a decision, a query was raised if it could deny the request now, with the provision the applicant could reapply in a year or two after the facility had been operating with four youth without issue, to have two extra youth reside there.

CAO John Enns-Wind stated in his report the applicant indicated four of the youth planned for the residence are siblings from the same family.

Administration will need to look into the procedural legality of whether council can deny the application and include a condition that the applicant can re-apply at a later date.

“This is a tough decision,” Enns-Wind said following the meeting, of council’s response to the discretionary use request. “This isn’t an entirely political decision. They just want to make sure they get it right.”

The matter will return to council on June 17.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow